Apparatus for filling containers with milk and other liquids



July 31, 1945. H. M. MCDONALD ,771

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH MILK AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR/VEKZ July 31, 1945. H. M. MCDONALD ,3 0,771

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH MILK AND OTHER LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X 20% e i /7 i [5 26 6 l6 Z4 Z6 r\\ /9 v 49 I L 4 wmwroxe warm/e114 Me Dam/.0

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Patented July 3.1, 1945 539 1! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAIN! WITH MILK AND OTHER LIQUIDS n torMurdoch u l a co m eeniyan, low n Application October is, 1041, Serial No. 415,124

in Australia mm- 24, 1m

2 Claims. (cl. 220-110) This invention relates to improvements. in and tion will pass upwardly through the branches in connected with apparatus for filling containers contact with and in opposition to the milk nowwith milk and other liquids and refers especially. i 8 into the cans and then through the distributbut is not limited, to apparatus for use with milki118 pip the same direction as the fiow of the ing machines wherein the milk is drawn from milk to the vacuum return pipe. cows and delivered to a receptacle and thence to In a modification of the invention, a pipe for a plurality of milk cans or like containers under supplying milk or other liquid to be delivered to the influence of a vacuum. the containers can be connected direct to the Hitherto, it has been proposed to direct the distributing pipe and the vacuum return pipe can milk from the cows to a'; collecting receptacle 10, be coupled toabacklash eliminating device which under vacuum and to connect the receptacle to is connected to the vacuum pump and the air closed containers, such as milk cans, in series by pipe line of the milking machine.

a number of separate pipes whereby the milk will The inv ntion in its simpl rm i pt be induced to iiow into the containers by th for filling cans and other containers to a desired vacuum maintained in the system. height with milk or other liquid by gravity from The disadvantages experienced with finin g a suitable source of supply and without the aid paratus of the above type are that th i k i of a vacuum as when the removal of odours is not subjected to a substantial turbulence with the require result that particles of butter are formed in the n order that he in e the ct an milk, the milk is not effectually de'odorised, it nature o which a been set t y e cannot bedelivered into a large number of conadily unders r fer n e will now e had to tainers without adversely affecting the control he l nyins hee 1' p n y wof the vacuum and the milk delivered into the lugs wherein: diiferent containers will not contain a uniform Figure 1 is a view in. elevation showing the quantity of butterfat owing to a portion of the invention fil p to mull receiving receptacle cream rising in the milk in the first container and Vacuum producinK appa atus 01 8' Va u passing on with the milk to the other cans. milkinB me- The object of the present invention is to prosur 2 is a Vi w in plan of lime vide simple and economically constructed means gure 3 is a view in end elevation of Figure 1.

which will enable cans and other containers to be Flsure 4 18 I w n elevation f a modified easily and quickly nlled to a predetermined height form o the invention with milk and other li u and which when used Figure 5 is a view in elevation partly in section with a vacuum controlled milking machine will of pert o the k distributing and v m r enable the milk to b delivered to any desired turn p s d shows the manner of connectin number of cans in a manner that will ensure it the distributm P tofihe comivilltliibeing eflectually deodorlsed and passed in a more In these drawings, like characters of reference or less quiescent stat from t t to a are employed to indicate the same or correspondnumber of containers while maintaining a ing parts in the diiferent views and the numeral form grade of milk in all the containers. I designates a milk storage receptacle of substan- Briefiy, the invention as applied t vacuum tial size having an opening in the top thereof protrolled milking machines having a closed ilk vided with a removable cover t of approved type storage receptacle arranged in communication which is adapted to eifectually exclude air from with a vacuum pump d th ug and vacuum the receptacle when a partial vacuum is produced pipes leading to the teat cups consists of an outthereinlet from the closed receptacle communicating 46 A milk pipe 1 passes from the teat cups (not a with a milk distributing pipe formed of deta hshown) to the top of the cover 0 and when a ably connected sections of substantial diameter cooler-i8 located in t r cep ac he k 111 and having depending branches entering a corres a ns in a thin film thereon is eflectually sponding number or milk cans, a vacuum retur deodorlsed and reduced in temperature at this Dine ior placinugnthetiouter end oi the distributing 50 point. 1

ppe n comm ca on with the vacuum pump, The top of the receptacle is connected b a and a backlash eliminating device interposedbepipe 0 to an air pipe 8 which places the teat ips tween the storage receptacle and the vacuum' in communication with a vacuum pump I and in pump constructed and arranged whereby the air a horizontal portion of this pipe 8 is fitted a displaced from the cans during the filling opera- It backlash eliminating device ll comprising a cover II and a detachable bowl l2 glass or other material into which one end of the pipe connected to the receptacle depends and is fitted with a non-return valve ll of approved construction.

The non-retum valve ii on the end or the portion of the pipe I depending into the bowl l2 of the backlash device is of the flap type and is retained on its seat by gravity.

An outlet pipe ll fitted with a cock is is fitted to the bottom of the receptacle 5 and is connected by a flexible piece of tubing Ii to a distributing pipe i'l having a number of dependin branches l8 passing into a corresponding number of milk cans I! arranged in juxtaposition to each other. The end of the distributing pipe remote from the receptacle is arranged in communication by means of a return pipe 2! with the top or the receptacle as shown.

The vacuum return pipe is provided with a cock 2l of approved design. The pipe II for distributing the milk from the vat to the cans II is 01' substantial diameter and preferably is made of a plurality of detachable sections having angularly disposed T pieces on one of their ends whereby any number of sections may be used to suit the number and arrangement of cans to be filled, see Fig. 5.

Each section of the distributing pipe consists of a horizontal portion 22 having one or its ends fitted into a horizontal socket of a T-piece 22 into the depending socket of which is fitted with a short branch pipe I. adapted to pass through a hole in the lid 2| of a can whilst the opposite horizontal socket is adapted to receive the free end of the horizontal portion 22 of a similar section of distributing pipe.

The pipe I! depending from the v rtical branch of the T-piece 23 projects into the milk can to a sumcient depth to determine the point to which the cans are to be filled and a sealing ring 25 (see Fig. 5) of rubber is provided on the branch I. for effectually excluding air from the can when the milk is being delivered thereto. Alternatively, the pipes II can be secured to the lids 24 and the depending bosses on the T-pieces 23 can be detachably secured thereto in any approved way. When the branch pipes are fitted to the lids 24 they can be provided with taps (not shown) which may be closed and the distributing pipe removed when the cans are filled so that a partial vacuum can be retained in the can and the milk delivered to hospitals and other places without permitting the atmosphere to come into contact with the milk.

The free ends of some or the horizontal sections 22 of the distributing pipe may be provided with two or more radially disposed sockets whereby the sections may be assembled to suit any arrangement of milk cans and the open ends of the branches not in use can be closed by rubber plugs 26 or the like, see Fig. 2.

The ends of the sockets accommodating the free ends of the sections 22 or the distributing pipe are flared and sealing rings 2! of rubber slipped'over the pipe are placed against the sockets to effectually prevent the ingress of air thereto and similar sealing devices may be employed with all slip-in connections between the arts of the apparatus.

In operation, the milk passes from the receptacle 5 to the distributing pipe I! supported above all of the milk cans and as the sections 22 of the distributing pipe ll are connected to and arranged in communication with the vacuum system, the milk will flow continuously to and till all or the cans in succession and without creating any turbulence or agitation in the milk. The milk will fiow freely through the distributing pipe l1 and branches il in such a way that the cans will be filled progressively, that is to say. the greater amount or the milk will now into the first can and at the same time in progressively decreasing quantities into the succeeding cans until each can is filled. The air displaced from the cans during the filling operation passes upwardly through the branches It in opposition to the fiow of milk and through the distributing pipe, in the same direction as the milk, to the return pipe 22.

Wheneachcanhasbeenfilledwithmilktothe level of the branch pipe I! depending therein, the partial vacuum will be cut oi! from the can and the milk will continue to rise above the lower end of the branch pipe until the air pressure in the can equals the gravity pressure of the milk within the branch pipe. The balancing of the air and gravity pressures results in the cessation of the fiow of milk to the filled can and ensures the milk therein remaining in a quiescent state. Moreover, the whole of the milk passing from the receptacle i flows direct to the remaining cans without disturbing the milk in the filled cans or in any way influencing the butteriat content thereinwhen all or the cans have been filled or the filling operation has been completed, the tap II in the discharge pipe from the receptacle and the tap 2| in the vacuum return pipe 2. passing from the cans are turned oil and the lids are removed from the cans and replaced by ordinary lids.

When the lids 24 are fitted with branch pipes ll having taps therein the taps are closed after the cans are filled and before the distributing pipe is removed from the branch pipes. The filled cans are thereby sealed under vacuum and they can be replaced by another set of cans.

The purpose of the "backlash" eliminating device II is to prevent atmosphere laden with oily or other vapors irom the pump or from the air pipe to the milking system.

The term "backlash" is intended to mean the action which takes place upon the frequent periods of instantaneous equalisation of atmospheric pressure between the milk and air pipe lines due to the operation or a pulsator (not shown) and which if not arrested causes the return to the milk, of unwanted feed and other odors already drawn ofif with oily and other deteriorating vapors which are associated with mechanically operated milking machines.

Thus when the machine is in operation the valve it in the backlash eliminating device will remain open during the periods when a partial vacuum is produced within the milk bowl l2 and air pipe line I and will close automatically to isolate the milk system from the air pipe line and pump when the partial vacuum is destroyed in the air pipe line by the action or the pulsater.

makes possible a milk that is free from air pockets and the contributory contaminating efiect oi Mum-inevitably introduced into the milk thereby, and minimises sponginess, blowing and gassing.

In adapting the invention to a vacuum milking machine which is' not provided with a storage receptacle, the milk pipe 1 can be coupled direct to the upper end of the distributing pipe and the vacuum return pipe 20 can be connected to a backlash eliminating device 21 (similar to III) which is arranged in communication with the vacuum pump and the air pipe line 8 as shown in Figure 4.

In Figure 4 the numeral 1 indicates the portion of the milk pipe which passes to the distributing pipe l1 and in this instance a tap similar to I5 is inserted at an approved point in the length of the milk pipe. In this view a backlash eliminating device 21 is shown interposed between the vacuum pump and the air pipe line 8 and the numeral 28 indicates the pipe connection between the backlash eliminating device 21 and the vacuum return pipe 20. In this instance the connecting pipe 28 is shown coupled to the return pipe by a T-piece 29 and the upper branch of the T-piece is closed by a removable plug 30 which can be easily removed to facilitate cleaning operations.- The end of the pipe 28 depending within the backlash eliminating device 21 is fitted with a gravity valve which will close automatically when the vacuum pump is rendered inoperative. In this adaptation of the invention, the milk passes direct from the milk pipe I to the distributing pipe l1 and cans I9 and the milk is at all times under the influence of a vacuum. When the cans have been filled with milk the tap I5 is closed and the distributing pipe is removed as hereinbefore described and replaced on another set of empty cans.

In adapting the invention to the filling of cans and other containers without the use of a vacuum, care must be exercised to provide the containers with airtight lids or closures and the return pipe for the escaping air is taken from the last or lowest receptacle to the top of the supply tank or to a point level therewith, when a supply tank is used.

In this adaptation of the invention the distributing pipe and cans or other receptacles are arranged so that the milk will gravitate freely through the former to the latter. The sockets on the ends of the sections of the distributing pipes are arranged so that the sections can be disposed to suit the disposition of the cans or other containers.

If preferred, the return pip can be fitted with a glass tube to indicate when all of the cans or containers are filled.

The invention is exceedingly simple in construction and operation, and in use will be found thoroughly efllcient for the purpose for which it has been devised.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for filling a series of containers having air-tight closures thereon with milk under a partial vacuum from a source of supply comprising a distributing pipe of substantial di ameter adapted to be supported above all of the containers and connected at one end to the source of supply, a branch pipe depending from the distributing pipe above each container and adapted to pass through the closure thereon, a vacuum pump, a covered bowl, a pipe connecting the vacuum pump to the cover on the bowl, a pipe having one end passing through the cover and depending within the bowl and its opposite end connected to the end of the distributin pipe remote from the source of supply, and a non-return valve on the end of the pipe depending within the bowl.

2. An apparatus for filling a series of containers having air-tight closures thereon with milk under a partial vacuum from a source of supply'comprising a closed storage receptacle for the supply of milk, a distributing pipe of substantial size connected at one end to the lower part of the storage receptacle, a branch pipe depending from the distributing pipe above each container to be filled and passing through the closure thereon, a pipe connecting the end of the distributing pipe remote from the storage receptable to the upper part of the said receptable, a vacuum pump, a covered bowl, a pipe connecting the vacuum pump to the cover on the bowl, a pipe having one end passing through the cover on and depending within the bowl and its opposite end connected to the upper part of the storage receptacle, and a non-return valve on the end of the pip depending within the bowl.

HECTOR MURDOCH MCDONALD. 

